Many countries, especially in the democratic West, champion freedom of expression and allow publications that lampoon Islam’s prophet. So why is France singled out for protests and calls for boycotts across the Muslim world, and so often the target of deadly violence from the extremist margins? Its brutal colonial past, staunch secular policies and tough-talking president, who is seen as insensitive toward the Muslim faith, all play a role.
While French officials often say their country is targeted because of its reputation as the cradle of human rights and a rampart of global democracy, what distinguishes France most is its unusual attachment to secularism (or laicite).
The often-misunderstood concept of French secularism is inscribed in the country’s constitution. It was born in a 1905 law after anti-clerical struggles with the Catholic Church. Separating church and state, the law was meant to allow the peaceful coexistence of all religions under a neutral state, instead of a government answering to powerful Roman Catholic clerics. Crucifixes were at one point torn from classroom walls in France amid painful public debate.
Photo: Spiridon Ion Cepleanu/Wikimedia Commons 照片:Spiridon Ion Cepleanu∕維基共享資源
A century later, polls suggest France is among the least religious countries in the world, with a minority attending services regularly. Secularism is broadly supported by those on both left and right.
State secularism is central to France’s national identity and demands the separation of religion and public life.
Schools have historically instilled the Republic’s values in its citizens — a task some teachers say becomes ever harder as a minority of French Muslims and adherents of other faiths seek to express their religious identity.
As the number of Muslims in France grew, the state imposed secular rules on their practices. A 2004 ban on Muslim headscarves and other ostentatious religious symbols in schools remains divisive, if not shocking to many outside France. A 2011 law banning face veils made Muslims feel stigmatized anew.
In recent decades, the desire among some French Muslims to express their religious identity has dominated the debate around balancing religious and secular needs.
(AP and Reuters)
許多國家──尤其是民主的西方國家──擁護言論自由,並允許嘲弄伊斯蘭教先知的出版品。那麼,為什麼法國會特別被針對,讓整個穆斯林世界抗議和呼籲抵制,且往往成為極端主義死亡攻擊的目標呢?它殘酷的殖民史、堅定的世俗﹝去宗教化﹞政策,以及言詞強硬的總統(他被認為對穆斯林信仰不敏感)都是原因。
雖然法國官員常說,法國之所以成為攻擊的目標,是因為法國是人權的搖籃及全球民主的堡壘;但法國與他國不同的最獨特處,在其牢牢固守著世俗主義。
世俗主義明訂於法國憲法中,其概念常被人誤解。一九○五年,經過與天主教會的反神職人員鬥爭後,世俗主義成為法律。該法律將教會和國家分開,旨在使所有宗教在中立的國家之下和平共處,而不是政府向手握強權的羅馬天主教神職人員稟報。公眾經歷艱難的辯論,教室牆上的耶穌受難像一度被拆除。
一個世紀後,民意調查顯示法國是世界上最不宗教化的國家之一,固定參加宗教儀式的人只有少數。世俗主義得到左右兩派的廣泛支持。
國家世俗主義是法國民族認同的核心,它要求宗教與公共生活必須區分開來。
學校歷來向公民灌輸共和國的價值觀──一些教師表示,少數法國穆斯林及其他信仰的信徒試圖表達自己的宗教認同,使得這項教學任務變得愈發困難。
隨著法國穆斯林人數的增加,法國政府在施政也強加上世俗化、非宗教的規範。法國在二○○四年禁止在學校穿戴穆斯林頭巾及其他炫示的宗教符號──若法國以外的許多人不感到震驚的話,對此禁令的看法也仍然分歧。二○一一年所頒布的禁蒙面法,又再讓穆斯林覺得被污名化。
一些法國穆斯林希望能夠表達自己的宗教認同,對於如何平衡宗教與世俗非宗教之需求,此議題已占據近數十年來相關辯論的主要部分。
(台北時報林俐凱編譯)
A: This year’s Taiwan International Queer Film Festival just opened last week. B: And the Taiwan LGBT Pride parade will also take place this Saturday. A: Isn’t that the largest annual gay event in Asia? B: Yeah, it is set to take place in downtown Taipei on Saturday afternoon. A: Let’s join the parade to support gender equality. A: 今年的酷兒影展已於上週開幕。 B: 台灣同志遊行也預計將在本週六登場! A: 那不是亞洲最盛大的年度同志盛會嗎? B: 對啊,遊行於本週六下午,在台北市區登場唷。 A: 那我們也一起上街頭,支持「性別平權」。 (By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times/台北時報張聖恩)
It’s won Oscars. Its television shows and K-pop stars dominate global charts. Its leading novelist just won the Nobel literature prize. How did South Korea become such a global cultural powerhouse? What is Hallyu? From the late 1990s, Korean dramas and K-pop idols started gaining traction in neighboring Asian countries like China and Japan, marking the start of Hallyu, or the Korean Wave. It wasn’t until Psy’s breakout hit “Gangnam Style” that Hallyu hit the West. In the decade that followed, “Babyshark” broke YouTube records, K-pop megastars BTS topped the charts, Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” won an Oscar, and Squid Game
A: Not long ago, Thailand also announced it will legalize same-sex marriage soon. B: Wow, what great news indeed. A: So, Thailand will become the third Asian country to do so after Taiwan and Nepal. B: Inspired by Taiwan, some Asian countries have gradually progressed. A: Maybe we can join the Taiwan LGBT Pride parade this Saturday to celebrate the great news. A: 不久前,泰國也宣布將同志婚姻合法化! B: 哇,真是好消息。 A: 繼台灣和尼泊爾之後,泰國將成為亞洲第3個開放同婚國家。 B: 在台灣帶領下,亞洲變得越來越進步。 A: 台灣同志遊行本週六即將登場,我們也去參加慶祝這個好消息。 (By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times/台北時報張聖恩)
As people become more health conscious, the role of dietitians is increasingly valued. In addition to proper exercise, an appropriate diet is also the key to maintaining good health. With their expert knowledge and skills, dietitians assist people in enhancing their health. Dietitians’ work is diverse and fulfilling. They provide personalized nutrition advice based on individuals’ health conditions, dietary habits, and lifestyle needs. They also design tailored diet plans to help clients achieve specific goals, such as weight loss, muscle gain, or managing chronic diseases. Additionally, dietitians promote correct nutrition concepts through lectures and workshops. Consequently, the employment scope for dietitians